Magnetic coupling of a waveguide switch to a coaxial switch

Abstract

A dual switch for coupling a waveguide microwave switch to a coaxial microwave switch. The waveguide microwave switch has a waveguide hollow member and a waveguide rotating section rotatably mounted about a rotational axis within the waveguide hollow member at one end. The coaxial microwave switch has a coaxial hollow member adjacent to the one end of the waveguide hollow member and a coaxial rotating section rotatably mounted within the coaxial hollow member about an axis coaxial with the rotational axis. The waveguide microwave switch is coupled to the coaxial microwave switch by at least one set of cooperating magnets fastened at a given radial distance from the rotational axis to the waveguide rotating section and the coaxial rotating section respectively, such that any rotation of the waveguide rotating section about the rotational axis will be followed by a corresponding rotation about the rotational axis of the coaxial rotating section. The set of magnets includes two magnets located radially opposite each other on the waveguide rotating section near its end and two pairs of magnets located radially opposite each other on the coaxial rotating section so that the magnets are centered between the pairs of magnets and repulse each other. This eliminates any openings between the waveguide microwave switch and the coaxial microwave switch and thus any radio-frequency leakage between the two switches.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a dual switch comprising: a waveguide microwave switch having a waveguide hollow member and a waveguide rotating section rotatably mounted about a rotational axis within said waveguide hollow member at one end thereof;   a coaxial microwave switch comprising a coaxial hollow member adjacent to the one end of the waveguide hollow member, and a coaxial rotating section rotatably mounted within said coaxial hollow member about an axis coaxial with said rotational axis;   said waveguide rotating section and said coaxial rotating section having opposite surfaces facing each other;   coupling means for coupling said waveguide microwave switch to said coaxial microwave switch each switch carrying different signals;   the improvement wherein said coupling means comprises at least one set of cooperating magnets fastened at a given radial distance from said rotational axis of said waveguide rotating section and said coaxial rotating section respectively;   wherein rotation of said waveguide rotating section about said rotational axis will be followed by a corresponding rotation about said rotational axis of said coaxial rotating section.   
     
     
       2. The improved dual switch according to claim 1, wherein a separating plate perpendicular to said rotational axis extends between said opposite surfaces. 
     
     
       3. The improved dual switch according to claim 1, wherein said at least one set of magnets comprises at least two symmetrical triplets of repulsive magnets fastened to the opposite surfaces of said waveguide rotating section and said coaxial rotating section respectively, at a same radial distance from said rotational axis, such that one magnet of said triplet is located on one of said opposite surfaces and two magnets of said triplet are located on the other of said opposite surfaces and surround the one magnet so that the one magnet remains centered between the two magnets. 
     
     
       4. The improved dual switch according to claim 3, wherein a separating plate perpendicular to said rotational axis extends between said opposite surfaces. 
     
     
       5. The improved dual switch according to claim 1, wherein said at least one set of magnets comprises: a magnet fastened on said waveguide end at a given radial distance;   a pair of magnets fastened on said coaxial rotating section at said given radial distance and positioned so that said magnet is centered between said pair of magnets; where said magnet and said pair of magnets repel each other, such that said magnet will tend to remain centered between said pair of magnets.     
     
     
       6. A dual switch according to claim 5, wherein said set of magnets comprises two such sets located radially opposite each other. 
     
     
       7. The improved dual switch according to claim 6, wherein a separating plate perpendicular to said rotational axis extends between said opposite surfaces. 
     
     
       8. A dual switch according to claim 1, wherein said at least one set of magnets comprises: a magnet fastened on said coaxial rotating section at a given radial distance;   a pair of magnets fastened on said waveguide end at said given radial distance and positioned so that said magnet is centered between said pair of magnets; where said magnet and said pair of magnets repel each other such that said magnet will tend to remain centered between said pair of magnets.     
     
     
       9. A dual switch according to claim 8, wherein said set of magnets comprises two such sets located radially opposite each other. 
     
     
       10. The improved dual switch according to claim 9, wherein a separating plate perpendicular to said rotational axis extends between said opposite surfaces.